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Saracens players get into a huddle during Thursday’s Captain's Run at Twickenham where there will again be plenty of empty seats when they face Clermont Auvergne on SaturdayChristopher Lee/Getty Images

The semi-final clash between Saracens and Clermont Auvergne today will be an intriguing contest and a huge clash between two of Europe’s biggest beasts, yet it will be played out in an atmosphere drained of the noise and colour associated with such European occasions because Twickenham will be about three-quarters empty.

The precedent was set a year ago, when Saracens played Toulon at the same stage in the tournament, also at Twickenham, yet the organisers — primarily the RFU, which allocates the venue — have not learnt that they cannot sell this event at such short notice.